ATHLETICS: Olympic sprinter Melissa Breen (ACT) was impressive at the Adelaide track Classic on Saturday taking out the sprint double, while fellow 2012 Olympian Josh ‘the Boss’ Ross (Vic) dominated to win the men’s 100m (10.45, w: -1.2). Emerging star Nicholas Hough (NSW) continued his 200m success with victory in a time of 20.71 (w: +1.7).
 
Paralympian Carlee Beattie (Qld), who won a silver medal in the F46 long jump for arm amputees at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, was the star performer of the meet breaking the world record in the long jump of 5.93m (w: +0.6).

Linda Leverton (Vic) won the event with a 6.39m leap, with Brooke Stratton (Vic, 6.39m) placed second on count back.
 
Breen, who was making her National Athletics Series debut in Adelaide, was unchallenged in the women’s 100m as she crossed to win in a time of 11.59 (w: -1.7).
 
Returning to the track shortly after, and with the event spun around to see athletes sprinting up the back straight with a tailwind, the 23-year-old held off a late charge from IAAF World Junior Championships representative Monica Brennan (Vic) who race a personal best of 23.65, PB. Breen took line honours in 23.52 (w: +0.7).
 
Breen said: “The wind wasn’t ideal in the 100m, but with the race shifted to the 200m I was able to run out a good race. Monica came at me and it was close.
 
“It’s a good start to what will hopefully be a big year. I’m going to run across the Australian season and I hope that I’ll be able to drop a time that cements my spot for the World Champs in Moscow as soon as possible.”
 
Winning the 100m in 10.45, and placing second in the 200m in a time of 20.73, Ross showed signs he is entering the season in great form.
 
His time in the 100m was his best season opener across the distance since 2008, while his 200m result was his fourth fastest ever and his best first run since 2007.
 
Hough who upstaged Ross in the 200m is arguably the greatest young talent in Australian athletics. The Youth Olympic Games hurdles champion from 2010 and world junior hurdles silver medallist from 2012 is looking for his first senior team in 2013.

He won the 110m hurdles and the 200m at the Hunter Track Classic two weeks ago. In Adelaide he was not far away again from the IAAF World Championships 200m qualifier of 20.60, with his time of 20.71 a mere 0.04 outside his personal best.
 
“I am getting so close to where I need to be and that’s exciting. I want it so bad and hopefully it will come. I’ll be working so hard to find that qualifying time,” Hough said.
 
Ross was pleased with how his season has started and he has big plans and is feeling physically and mentally better than ever before.

“I’m happy to have just been out here and put a time on the board. You can’t do anything about the wind so you do your best to come away with a win and I was able to do that in the 100m,” Ross said.
 
“Who knows what tonight might mean for the rest of the season, but I know I can run the time needed for an individual spot and that’s what I want to make sure I do.”

In other highlights, Kelly Hetherington (Vic) improved her personal best in the women’s 800m, running a solo last lap to win in a time of 2:02.33. It is her third consecutive performance at 2:02 and once again has her performing within striking distance of the IAAF World Championships qualifier of 2:01.50.

Entering the Australian season fully fit for the first time in two years, seven-time national champion Kim Mickle (WA) heaved 58.74m to win the women’s javelin. Her series was consistent and the result bodes well for her upcoming showdown in Sydney and Perth with South African Sunette Viljoen.

Australian pole vault record holder Alana Boyd (Qld) soared 4.20m off a shortened run up of ten steps to win the women’s pole vault from Charmaine Lucock (Qld, second, 4.10m) and Catherine Macrae (Vic, third, 3.70m). She will next compete at the SydneyTrack Classic on 9 March.

London Olympic marathoner Jess Trengove (SA) blitzed the field in the closing stages of the women’s 5000m to cross and win in 16:22.96. IAAF World Cross Country Championships bound Sophie Barker (Vic) was second in 16:40.31.
 
The National Athletics Series now moves to Hobart (Tas) for the 2013 Briggs Track Classic next Saturday 23 February.

Athletics Australia and AOC